PEN South Africa Concerned About Draft Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill

14 Dec 2015

PEN South Africa has read the draft Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill (B-2015) with extreme concern. There are many features of the Bill which have the potential to harm and make inroads on freedom of expression and impose wide-ranging controls over people who use the internet.

We have submitted feedback to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, requesting that the Bill be withdrawn and redrafted with input from civil society. We have asked that the Bill be reformulated in such a way that it achieves the protections sought in the safest way and which takes into consideration the freedom of expression clauses in the Constitution and protection of the public interest.

PEN South Africa will take part in the public hearings on the Bill if given the opportunity and will be following the legislative process closely.

About Us

PEN South Africa, founded in 1927, is one of more than 140 Centres of PEN International, which currently operate in over 100 countries. A worldwide, politically non-aligned organisation of writers, PEN International is dedicated to promoting freedom of expression, and encouraging the growth and strengthening of literature. Its foundational text is the PEN Charter, which all Centres and members of PEN must uphold.